"My own fault. I didn't see that it might be important either. It may not be. Can but try."
While the Sergeant waited to be connected with the Glassmere Road Police Station, Hannasyde sat reading the notes on both cases, his brows knit. The Sergeant, having exchanged a few words with the official on duty at the police station, lowered the receiver, and said: "Just come on duty, Super. Will you speak to him?"
"Yes, tell them to bring him to the phone," said Hannasyde absently.
The Sergeant relayed this message, and while Constable Mather was being summoned, sat watching his superior with a puzzled but alert expression on his face. A voice speaking in his ear distracted his attention. "Hullo! Is that Mather? Hold on! Detective-Superintendent Hannasyde wants a word with you. Here you are, Chief."
Hannasyde took the instrument from him. "Hullo! This is with reference to last night, Mather. I want you to clear up a point which seems to have been left in the air."
"Yes, sir," said PC Mather dutifully.
"Do you remember at what hour you reached Barnsley Street on your beat?"
There was a slight pause; then the Constable said rather anxiously: "I don't know to the minute, sir."
"No, never mind that. As near as possible, please."
"Well, sir, when I passed the post office in Glassmere Road the clock there said 9.10, so by my reckoning it would be just about 9.15 when I got to Barnsley Street."